Weight loss support with a spiritual element. I will keep you posted on my journey in the hopes that you will join me in becoming the person God wants you to be. Don't worry about being religious. Come as you are.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Its easy to say such things once you are past the wall and have finally
figured it out for yourself. Give me all the nutritional information
and the how-to's in the world and that was never going to be enough to
"fix" my binge eating.

Well said. She had all the information she needed but lacked what she needed to fix the psychological part.

We can all relate to that. I answered one of my comments saying that I have often wondered if I would have been offended by some of the blogs that stated the truth that I couldn't quite bear to incorporate into my thinking as yet and I do think I would have been hurt and even more discouraged. I would not have realized that what I would have perceived as harsh was actually what I had to do. I just couldn't do it yet.

When things started falling into place for me it was quite a feeling of freedom. This freedom was there all the time for me and I could have had it if I had had the emotional tools I needed. That part had to heal to a certain point before I could go on I guess.

So how do we help others? It is natural to want to help defend those we feel are being held up as examples of what not to do. While I don't think we should kick somebody when he/she is down, the ones I do see pointed out seem to be blatantly insincere. We can learn from those people too in our own way. I can think of one who has a lap band and is working the system to get another procedure done. She seems truly confused and overwhelmed to me. I don't know what to think of Lyn - she's all over the place. Kenlie is just humorous. None of them get on my nerves.

Hopefully their answers will come to them in time just like mine came to me - and yours came to you.

Reading Kenlie's most recent post concerning the Medifast question brought something to mind that I have been mulling over. The person who asked Kenlie the question about Medifast made the statement that she was considering walking away and doing it herself.

I was talking to another person about a month ago in her home about how I have been losing my weight - low-carb, exercise, water. She has tried many things and bought books and joined this and that and ordered this and that - you know the drill. I just said to her, "You already know what to do." She had this look on her face that said to me, "I know I do."

Are the most successful among us the ones who independently educated themselves, made decisions based on past experience and watching others, and then made their own plan and then worked the plan? I read of so many people who have to know what they need to do but persist in searching for that book, that plan, that piece of equipment - something that will tell them what to do so they don't have to think or do it themselves. Do they really want to lose weight and be healthy or is this a way to get attention for their plight? I truly feel sorry for those who struggle because I have struggled. I truly feel sorry for those who binge because I used to binge. There has to come a time when we personally reach the point where we say "ENOUGH". Some of us get there sooner than others. The lifestyle change that is absolutely necessary in my opinion doesn't need to start with another diet plan. The first three letters of diet are DIE. They don't work; we already know that don't we? Rather, why not commit to eating only lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. I personally feel we need a few carbs to keep from getting tired and there are carbs that can supply those needs without a blood sugar spike. Make your own rules, exercise 3 - 5 times a week, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (more is better but at least get in 8). I wonder how many times this information has been blogged about? I wonder how many people still don't do it.

How can anybody not know how to lose weight or find good information or at least find the successful people and get advice? People who are smart enough to operate a computer and get on the internet and create a blog already know what to do.

I weighed 181 this morning which is down 1.5 lb. from last Sunday. I have no clue why I am up .5 lb. from my sneak peak the other morning but it happens.

Today is the last Sunday of the month and another lady and I take the 3 - 4 grade Sunday School class to the local nursing home. We walk through and stop in the rooms of the patients who are to themselves enough to enjoy singing "Jesus Loves Me". It's always heartwarming to see how many of them still know that song and those wonderful children who are willing to shake their hands and give them hugs.

If you ever want a reality check and appreciate that all you have to do is lose some weight go and visit a nursing home.

Today we are going to meet our son halfway between us for lunch. He lives in the Fort Wayne area and we meet in Portland at a Mexican restaurant called "Bandidos". I will have a chicken taco salad without the tortilla bowl telling them to just put the salad part on the the plate. I sometimes enjoy a margarita but mixed drinks are getting so expensive - $6 - $8 that I think I'll skip it. I haven't even had any wine for quite some time now and really don't miss it. I have also lost my taste for sweets. Both are good things. That restaurant always brings a bowl of chips with small bowls of salsa and refried beans. I will probably have a taste of each. I remember the days when I was full of chips and those dips when the meal arrived and was ready for my second margarita. Enough of that noise.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

GMO's are something I haven't paid much attention to but this article makes clear the importance of eating organic as much as possible, growing as much of our own food as we can, and using heirloom varieties.

I will now only be using seeds from heirloom varieties in my garden. I already knew that seeds from hybrids could not be saved because the result from those seeds would not be the same as the plant from which the seed was saved. The heirloom varieties are sometimes not quite as "pretty" as hybrids but "pretty" isn't the objective.

I usually choose organic if I can afford it. I am going to make more of a point of doing this.

I have noticed since I stopped using weed killers so much I now have lady bugs (a beneficial insect) back in the yard again.

Even city dwellers and those who live in apartments can garden on a small scale in pots on a porch or balcony in large pots. Do a little research and you will find all kinds of information. I saw a TV show once of an apartment building with a garden in large pots on the roof. It might take some creativity but it can be done. Start planning now.

I know I read once that a theory of why girls are starting their periods earlier and boys are maturing earlier is the growth hormones fed to cattle/pigs/etc. We eat the meat and the effect is earlier maturation.

Do you respond better to high standards that you cannot reach or to standards that are easily met? I think we need to look at the standards set by others and evaluate ourselves and our ability to set and reach our own standards. Do we set our standards too low if we set any at all and if we do set standards, are we easily persuaded to put them aside?

Why are standards important anyway?

When we fall short of our own stated standards and are out there on the internet should we be surprised if someone calls us out over it? There are many reasons for falling short. I don't think any of us can state that it has been a straight shot to reaching our final goal. Is it better to be encouraged over repeated failures or to be told to get our act together and also how to do that? We cannot fool others for very long - there's a saying - you can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Read Al and Norma for what I mean here. They both take heat for being "in your face" with the truth and neither has much patience for immaturity and hypocrisy. I cannot reach the standards set by Norma regarding her workouts. I don't want to reach the standards set by Al's weight loss plan. Neither is for me. I have a lot of respect for both of them and read them each time they blog.

I have my own standards. I exercise regularly and follow a low-carb eating plan. I drink 8 glasses of water a day and then other liquids like tea and coffee - no pop or artificially sweetened drinks. I do not weigh or measure food. I do not journal. I don't count calories or figure points.

I think those who are insulted by bloggers who are serious about what WE claim to be serious about as well should get a little thicker skin. We should all show respect to others but we must also realize that respect must be earned by our actions. Our actions are what show how true we are to any standards we claim to have. If someone blogs with the stated intention of being accountable and getting help then that person doesn't have much reason to be insulted if another blogger holds them accountable or if the help doesn't come wrapped up in a pretty package with a bow. Don't follow the people who aren't a "fit" for your sensibilities. We can all find a group of bloggers suited to our own set of standards.

Personally, I am inspired by standards that are just out of reach or standards that I don't think I can meet but then surprise myself by doing better than I thought I could. It's also nice to be able to know a standard is reachable with some commitment on my part. I will never be an Olympic swimmer. That's just how it is. I will, however, get to a healthy number on the scale. It's about 25 lb. away. It's reachable. It's a standard I have set for myself.

This morning's weight was 180.5 - new digit right around the corner. I have a quilt retreat from Friday - Sunday of next week. There will be buffet meals and complimentary breakfasts that come with the hotel room. I am hoping to be in the new digit by the time we leave on next Thursday. It's over a 3 - hour drive so we are going the day before to get settled in our room (going with a quilting buddy), get everything unloaded and set up and that means another day of eating out. I can either see it as an excuse or a challenge.

I choose to see it as a challenge. If I don't I am afraid Al and Norma will get after me :-)

The obesity epidemic is now affecting our military. Young men otherwise qualified are failing to qualify for one reason - their weight. They are too fat to fight. Would these same young men have the discipline to fight anyway? I have seen police officers that I wondered about, and nurses. Of course, this problem is related to all occupations.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

All the plans I made, all the resolutions I vowed to keep were poor substitutes for patience. At times, doing nothing but waiting is harder than writing lists and following schedules and doing this and that.

The above is from an OA daily reading.

A mountain for each of us is getting this weight off and keeping it off. However, we have not been patient enough; we have not been diligent enough. In order to move a mountain we have to diligently and patiently work at it.

A mountain in scripture is any challenge that we have. We can move a mountain one bucket at a time. Our days are each a bucket that we can fill with what we need to overcome.

The September 25 reading from Emmet Fox went like this:

ONE THING AT A TIME

The present moment is never intolerable. It is always what is coming in five minutes or five days that makes people despair. The Law of Life is to live in the present, and this applies to both time and place. Keep your attention to the present moment, and in the place where your body is now. Do a fair day's work, and then stop. Overwork is not productive in the long run.

A friend of mine was visiting a great cathedral in Italy. Just inside the door was a magnificent mosaic extending the width of the building, but not yet completed. It represented the Last Judgment and the number of tiny pieces of different colored marble involved in it staggers the imagination. A man was on his knees working away and my friend, who spoke Italian, whispered to him, "What a stupendous task you have! I could not even dream of undertaking so much work."

The man replied quietly, "Oh, I know about how much I can do comfortbly in one day. So each morning I mark out a certain area, and I don't bother my head thinking outside of that space. Before I know where I am the job will be complete."

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself . . . (Matthew 6:34).

Before we know it our job of weight loss will be complete. We must be patient and diligent and take one day at a time. If this man had thought of the whole mosaic each day it would have been too much and he may never have even started.

Monday, September 24, 2012

This is a good description of entitlements. It is political so don't visit if you want to stay away from this on a weight loss blog. I do agree with this person. She has made several good points. Thanks to A Yellow Rose From Texas for pointing it out.

Tough decisions have to be made and made soon. The people who are willing to make these decisions are vilified and misrepresented by the press. The mainstream, lapdog media is a whole post in itself. Obama has made time to be on The View, David Letterman, and hang out with Beyonce, JayZ, and Pimp With a Limp but not the Prime Minister of Israel, his budget committee, or daily briefings. Can you imagine the coverage if this was a Republican?

***"Procrastination is the fear of success."
Denis Waitley (from jensgyrations.blogspot.comMany have blogged about self-sabotage. I have been known to do that myself.

Subconsciously I do think we are afraid of success. There are some bloggers close to goal weight who are concerned about this very thing. The metamorphosis from morbid obesity to a healthy weight includes much more than pounds lost. Our mind has to come along for the trip as well and it is a lot harder to corral and treat.

Our minds must get comfortable at the weight we have endured for years and fight to stay there. It can be the little devil on one shoulder whispering in our ears while the little angel on the other shoulder has to try and scream over him. He is the creature of habit while the angel tries to get us to see a better way.

Success can be threatening because the possibility of gaining our weight back and more creates stress. We have always treated stress with food. I remember fighting binges and then just going ahead because I knew I was going to do it anyway so I might as well get it over with. Enough of that noise.

We are born with only two fears - the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All the others have been learned - which means they can be un-learned.

My weight held this week. I just continue---

I re-qualified with my weapon yesterday morning. I only had to do a couple of them over because I didn't get the required number of shots in the center area of the torso targets or because I didn't get the required shots done before I ran out of time. My most difficult one was where we walk up to the back of a barricade, draw our weapons and lean out to the right for two shots in two separate targets. That means we have to re-load quickly because we only have two shots left and need four for the other side. We reload, shift the weapon to the left hand, and do the same thing to the left of the barricade - finally got it - hit all 8 in the torso area. Never fear, Myra's here.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Research links genes that predispose people to weight gain with consumption of sweet beverages.

Here's the body of the article by Marilynn Marchione/Associated Press

New research powerfully strengthens the case against soda and other sugary drinks as culprits in the obesity epidemic.

The case wasn't already powerful enough?

A huge, decades-long study involving more than 33,000 Americans has yielded the first clear proof that drinking sugary beverages interacts with genes that affect weight, amplifying a person's risk for obesity beyond what it would be from heredity alone. And most of us have at least some of these genes.

Ya think?

In addition, two other major experiments have found that giving children and teens calorie-free alternatives to the sugary drinks they usually consume leads to less weight gain.

I never would have associated the two.

Collectively, the results strongly suggest that sugary drinks cause people to pack on the pounds, independent of other unhealthy behavior such as overeating and getting too little exercise, scientists say.

Those are usually the same people who overeat and get too little exercise. It took a scientist for this?

There was some good news: Sugar-free drinks did not raise the risk of obesity in these studies.

What a relief!

The studies were presented Friday at an obesity conference in San Antonio and were published online the the New England Journal of Medicine.

Good! This information needs to get out right away!

The gene research in particular fills a major gap in what we know about obesity. It was a huge undertaking, involving three long-running studies that separately and collectively reached the same conclusions. It shows how behavior combines with heredity to affect how fat we become.

I did not know fat was inherited, did you? I have heard we inherit tendencies and a certain amount of "constitution" but this is hardly groundbreaking.

Sugary drinks are the single biggest source of calories in the American diet, and they are increasingly blamed for the fact that a third of U.S. children and teens and more than two-thirds of adults are obese of overweight.

I never would have thought that, how about you?

Consumption of sugary drinks and obesity rates have risen in tandem--both have more than doubled since the 1970's in the U.S. But genes, inactivity and eating fatty foods or just too much food also play a role.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Joy had a great post today. It's one of those "what was I thinking?" posts.

She decided she couldn't lose 100 lbs. if she didn't first lose 5 or 10 or more. It works the same in reverse.

Temptation is everywhere and so is what seems to be the easy way out.

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." From Scripture.

Joy caught herself thinking and considering going down a path - a self-destructive one. We must immediately put those thoughts to death. Immediately replace those dark thoughts with an affirmation. One that has been particularly helpful to me is, "Thy vitalizing energy floods my whole consciousness, and I am healed." After meditating on this I begin to think of where I need to be healed.

gluttony
sloth
impatience
angry reactions
greed

I am sure your list may be different from mine.

My daily reading from Emmet fox contained this:

If you seem to lack strength, ask God to give you what you need. Remember you can build any quality into your mentality by meditating upon that quality every day. You have created your limited self by thinking and you can destroy it at any moment by thinking a new pattern. Why do we not change from day to day, and week to week, from glory to glory, until our friends can scarcely recognize us for the same man or woman? Why should we not march around the world looking like gods, and feeling it; healing instantaneously all who come to us; reforming the sinner, setting captives free? The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. (Isaiah 61:1)

Many of us are or have been in bondage to food/eating. Our thoughts keep us there. Our thoughts will also set us free.

I recommend you read Emmet Fox. He is metaphysical in his writings. He believes strongly in the power of thought.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

When we look at someone like the guy on the scooter in my previous post we wonder how he can stand to be dependent on a scooter for independence. Poonapalooza commented about her birth mother being Type II diabetic and doing nothing about her situation. I think of my aunt who had emphysema and had to drag an oxygen tank everywhere and she would still take off those breathing tubes and smoke.

Those of us who now exercise regularly and have changed our habits have adapted to this new way of living. It is uncomfortable for us now to stray from the new "us". I got to thinking about that same perspective as it relates to the person who is diabetic, or who has emphysema, or any number of other conditions and does nothing to correct it. They have accepted the discomfort brought by these conditions as their lives. They have adapted. As they gradually lived their lives and became less and less healthy it just became their new "normal". They cannot see themselves as slim and healthy. That would be abnormal for them.

Most of us have heard the true story of putting a frog in cool water and gradually heating it up. The frog will not jump out but will stay in the water as it grows hotter and hotter and will die. It adapts to the heat and it kills him.

It's hard to imagine someone not wanting to wear nice clothes, feel good, and do things. Maybe they do want it but on a very immature level. It has taken something very disturbing for some of us to get serious. Some of us just got sick of how we were living and committed to doing something about it. We found a compelling reason and acted upon it.

Last night I did do the body sculpt class and then spinning. Bad idea. My back was very sore this morning. So I think when doing body sculpt on Tuesdays and Thursdays I will just go spend some time on the elliptical for some aerobic work. I wasn't able to keep up in step aerobics this morning because my muscles were still weak from last night. The leader of the body sculpt class did a lot of weights and floor work for thighs and so spinning did not go well. I just sat on the bike and pedaled for the hour. I did sweat but didn't do the class. It was the same leader I have for step aerobics so I told her this morning that it wasn't going to work.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Have you been noticing more and more of these in the grocery stores lately? I have. I was in Kroger a few days ago and had to maneuver around someone like this to get to where I wanted to go. It's kind of irritating. I looked at the gal in the scooter and she was probably younger than I am but then I don't know her situation and shouldn't judge. There could have been a perfectly good reason for the need of the scooter.

Those things are expensive. They are very expensive. Many stores provide them and some people do need them. My mom doesn't go to big stores like Wal-Mart or Meijer too much because of the walking required. She is 86 and has neuropathy in her feet. She doesn't use one of these however when she does go to these large stores. She uses the shopping cart for support. This guy is not 86 but he obviously does need the scooter.

What is the answer to these people who drive up the cost of healthcare and of doing business? How empathetic should we be since we all understand obesity and have lived it?

What is your opinion on this? It starts out with a political ad so just wait for the video please.

How much success does any doctor have treating obesity? Do people just come there wanting a drug? Did you notice the 200 lb. woman said "I thought doctors were there to help you."? Should it take up a doctor's time to deal with someone who already knows what to do? I really think, and we all know, that a motivated person can lose weight. Can doctors provide this motivation in a somewhat negative way by letting patients know they will not see them after a certain weight is reached? As the person's weight goes up the doctor could do a little questioning and counseling to point that person in the right direction.

But what about extenuating circumstances? Diabetes, heart, blood pressure? Would this be a death sentence for someone who goes over the stated limit if they won't be treated or can't find a doctor? Would some "tough love" wake people up? I have more questions than answers on this one.

Monday, September 17, 2012

I generally don't like people messing with The Star Spangled Banner but this is a great video that A Yellow Rose of Texas (link on the right) had on her blog today. Thanks to her. Our national anthem is very stirring and now is a good time with the world like it is to remind ourselves of how fortunate we are to live in America.

Cat gave me the idea for this post. She blogged that "You'll never regret the workout you did." How about the one we didn't do?

Many of my regrets are over things I didn't do rather than over things that I have done.

I didn't:

exercise today
eat right today
drink enough water
say "I'm sorry"
clean the house
get some yard work done
spend some time in prayer
reach a goal that was completely reachable
send a card to someone
give my best effort at work

I have never come out of the gym and thought to myself, "I wish I hadn't done that."
The next morning after a day of eating right I haven't said, "Well, that won't happen again - what was I thinking?"
I have never felt worse after apologizing.

Maybe if we kept in mind that we will regret not exercising and get our workout done - same for the eating and the drinking of the water and all the other things on the list. You can probably add some of your own.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Here's another "miracle" - this time it is for real - it's amazing - groundbreaking - incredible.

Another millionaire will be made by preying on people desperate to lose weight.

The obese will be thinking, "Finally, I will lose my weight and won't have to do anything." I won't have to do without eating as I please. They will buy this product and for a week or two get great results because they are also eating less (which could be the reason for the loss you think?). The new will wear off. They begin eating because of their emotional issues which will trump hunger every time. They will regain the weight and more and be even more miserable.

The morbidly obese do not overeat because they are physically hungry. I can out-eat any amount of exercising if I want. I can overeat whether I am hungry or not and that green coffee bean is not going to raise my metabolism enough to cure my emotional problems.

I am having those feelings that I think everyone has when we feel like we have done everything right and have a small loss. I felt entitled to more than a 1/2 lb. loss when I have been getting hungry to the point of a dull headache and my stomach has been growling.

It isn't because I haven't been eating enough.
It isn't because I have been exercising a little more and muscle weighs more than fat.
Menopause happened a couple decades ago.
I have been doing low-carb for quite some time so it's not too many carbs.
I have been getting the water in.

Things like this just happen. I have been looking forward to the next digit. I guess I will be looking a little longer. I remember when in WW that I would have a week like this and have a hold or only a small loss and that sense of entitlement would appear. I also remember times I would go in feeling really fat and have a significant loss. I accepted the losses I didn't feel entitled to a lot better than the small losses when I felt entitled to a nice loss. As many say, a loss is a loss but a big loss is a big loss too :-). I can also deal with this a lot better when it happens to other people :-) I guess things like this keep us humble.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

I got to The Golay Center at 8 a.m. like I said I was going to do. I had the weight and cardio area all to myself. I was the only one there.

I spent 1/2 hour on the elliptical. I had forgotten how boring it is on the elliptical. I really didn't expect to be able to do the entire 1/2 hour because even though I have been exercising doing something different is usually difficult at first. I got a little winded at 20 minutes and was considering stopping but decided to slow down and see if I could get my second wind which I did. I had been going at about a 5.6 - 5.8 mph pace for the first 20 minutes which I guess is about the rate of a jog. I have read that brisk walking is 3 - 4 mph so I slowed down to that to get my second wind and then my rate started going back up as I was able to swallow my heart :-) I ended up going 3 miles in 30 minutes. The elliptical wasn't exactly smoking.

I then did some work with the free weights and also did some floor work. I spent an hour there. One of my goals is to be able to hold a plank for 2 minutes as my book by Martina Navratilova suggests. I can do 45 seconds before I have to rest so I have some work to do. I really want to do this as the plank is one of the best exercises as it works all the muscles at once. I am all for that.

The music was awful in addition to being way too loud. I felt like I was in hell. I call it angry music and they are yelling rather than singing. I couldn't find where I could change it to something easier to listen to so next time I will ask at the desk before going down to the weight room if we can change it to something like classic rock or oldies or anything but the music from hell. I saw a T-shirt once that read, "If it's too loud, you're too old." I guess I am too old.

I have to remember to take my own support belt next time for my back. I thought there would be some there to use. I will also have to take my knee bands. They are great. They are just bands that are placed around the leg just below the knee and they help keep the patella in alignment. My lower back is always sore so I try to use some support. I lay on my SpineWorx which helps get my back back in line. You might google it and see if it could help you if you have lower back pain like I do.

The Golay Center opens at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday). I may even take what I need to shower and change into fresh clothes. Who knows, I might be a gym rat before long. I better take advantage of it now before the New Year when the place will be packed for about a month with all the resolutions people. It doesn't last long thankfully. Nathan (son #1) hates that time because of the people there who are obviously not going to last and are just in his way. He has a shirt that says, "Shut up and train." He takes his weight lifting seriously and has the school bench press record of 405 lb. He is 35 now and set that record when he was a senior. We aren't expecting it to be broken.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Body sculpt was easy and enjoyable so did not even work up a sweat. I think it might be wise to do the spinning as well for the aerobic work.

Body sculpt was as I expected. Weights and floor work. Body weight things.

Tomorrow morning (Saturday) the Golay Center opens at 8 a.m. so I think I will just go on over there and do my own thing in the weight room and spend some time on the elliptical. I don't think I will use the machines anymore. I am not reading good things about them. Free weights are better due to the balancing that needs to be done with the core and the opposing muscles. The machines do not let you perform movements in a natural way like when you carry or lift things.

I can't swim or I would consider swimming some laps. I can dog paddle a little. It's kind of a pain to change, shower, swim, shower, dress, etc. although swimming does work every muscle in the body. It's just not my thing. I have taken water aerobics before and it's OK. The Golay Center is starting a class of Zumba in the water. I am not that crazy about Zumba either. Picky, Picky.

If I don't get in my exercising done early, the chances become slimmer and slimmer that I will get it done as the day goes by. How about you? I know some people work out in the morning and get dressed for work at the gym. Some have no choice but to wait until the evening. Just so we get it done, right?

I am sure this is done for our own good. What a gutsy mayor. He must not have enough to do. What with murder, drugs, abuse/neglect and a host of other things Mayor Bloomberg has time to make our choices for us regarding drinking soda.

Is this why people can't think for themselves anymore? Dependency on government is rampant and this shows the attitude of liberals - "We know what's best for you." This will not make one bit of difference in the weight problem of the people of New York or anywhere else.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

I am going to a body sculpt class tonight at the community center where I take my step aerobics class on M-W-F. I am hoping it is something I like. I assume we will do work with weights and floor work - body resistance things. There is a body sculpt class on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. and on Thursday evening at 7:15 p.m. There is a spinning class on Tuesday at 7:15 and Thursday at 6. I am not a fan of spinning although I think it is a wonderful calorie burner. My butt hurt forever the last time I tried it. It takes a while getting used to that seat. It only works the lower body and I prefer to work the whole body in a class. Who knows, if I really get into it since I am already there for the body sculpt why not do spinning as well? I was in a Jazzercise class that met on T-Th-S but I have to say I hate the music. I am a geezer and Black Eyed Peas, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, Katie what's her name is not my kind of music. Why pay for a Jazzercise class when I already have a membership at The Golay Center in Cambridge City and all classes are free with the membership?

I have told you about my husband's back problems. He went to a pain management doctor today who told him his back was shot (two other doctors have told him the same thing). He is now on morphine to control the pain. Years of cement finishing and then the compression fracture when he fell backwards down those 3 basement steps have taken their toll.

I ran a route today and must do so again tomorrow. Here is my exciting food: Raisin Bran muffin for breakfast in the car as I drive and take my pills. I just put it all in a zip-lock bag. Later I had a Quest Nutrition Bar (strawberry cheesecake - yum). I also had a 1/2 c. serving of my trail mix. My last meal of the day was a big, old salad and some dark chocolate. This is no ordinary salad. I had 1/2 an avocado on it, 2 slices of crisp bacon, some sunflower seeds, some slivered almonds, and about every vegetable there is. I still prefer Ranch dressing.

I have found a wonderful chai tea. It's a latte in a box and is sugar free. It's in the coffee/tea aisle. The directions say to dilute it in equal parts with something of your choice. I mix it with almond milk. The brand is Oregon Chai. It has 0 calories per 1/2 c. serving. I use one cup and mix with 1 c. of almond milk which has 30 calories. I added some stevia and had it over ice. Is it ever good. There is some protein (5 gr. I think in a cup of almond milk) so it's a great way to take the edge off of some hunger I may experience later. Here are the ingredients: water, organic black tea, organic vanilla, organic spices, sucralose, and citric acid. The sucralose is probably the only "less than desirable" thing in it. It's worth it!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The heat has finally broken and we have gotten some relief from the drought. I love this weather - cool at night, comfortable all day in the 70's, low 80's. I am still mourning the loss of so many things in my yard due to the drought but I can't do a thing about it. In the spring, I'll know for sure how much has been lost.

I have been eating on more of a schedule and getting to bed at a decent hour and that has really helped my efforts. I have step aerobics this morning and then will be helping replant the large flower pots on the four corners of the main intersection in town with mums. I will be taking the geraniums we remove to save for next year. I have pretty good luck keeping geraniums over the winter in my mom's basement. One of the men on our garden tour for next year says he just puts them in a paper bag for over the winter. I have heard of hanging them upside down to save them. I just usually pack them tightly into a tub and my mom will splash some water on them occasionally for me when she is in the basement. In the spring they are stringy but perfectly alive and ready to snap off starts and then replant the main plant - you might try it.

The old wive's tale about bringing plants inside before the September wind blows on them is true. I heard it on a radio talk show about gardening or read it in a magazine. It gives them time to adapt to the indoor environment before the house heat is turned on. I will bring in my Christmas cactus on the first day of October and begin watering them. That usually encourages budding. They just get rain and whatever they get from the sprinklers all summer. Do not turn or move your Christmas cactus after it starts budding or the buds will fall off. They are very touchy.

Yesterday's eats were my usual muffin for breakfast, tuna salad on Wasa crackers for lunch with a little dark chocolate for dessert, and then nuts and a banana for supper - not too exciting but then I tend to eat basically the same things a lot. I will get in a few more vegetables today. As long as I try a new recipe a couple times a week I'm good. I have been getting hungry to the point of the dull headache. It may just be something I have to endure. I get in my water pretty easily. My back was really sore yesterday for some reason so I didn't exercise.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

I woke up last night very hungry and with a dull headache. I never get headaches so I knew it was hunger. What do you do if and when this happens to you?

I got up for a while and ate a 1/2 cup serving of the trail mix I described in an earlier post. I read for a while and went back to bed and slept.

Bible Study Fellowship begins today and I am ready to begin for this school year. We are studying the book of Genesis this whole year which tells you how deeply we study. The first hour is small groups where we discuss the questions we were to have answered over the assigned scripture. The second hour is lecture over the assigned scripture. I have learned a lot. I am going to read Charles Fillmore's book about Genesis and read and study from a more metaphysical point of view. His book talks about ideas which become plans which are manifested. You may have read about Divine Mind or heard God described this way. Creation was an idea which was planned and then manifested. We are a manifestation. Thoughts are things. They bring about results.

He also says all manifestation was first an idea which then became a plan that was manifested. We manifest a healthy meal. We manifest working out. We manifest a binge. We manifest our career. We manifest our lives.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Yesterday went well. I had my raisin bran muffin with my pills for breakfast:

1,000 mg Vitamin C (haven't had a cold in 2 yrs.), I never did get the flu.
kelp (thyroid support) - the doctor couldn't feel my goiter last visit.
CoQ10 - heart/energy - I take this hoping it will help the blood pressure.
fish oil - it's a good thing
glucosamine/chondroitin - the old bone/joints need some lubrication these days
my blood pressure pill
a vitamin

I had some beef roast left over so I stir fried some veggies in a little butter/salt/rosemary and added the meat. I will get two meals out of that. I had some 90% cacao dark chocolate for dessert. That was lunch. I have been grabbing a handful of almonds, eating a food bar, having some trail mix, or eating a banana or something mid-morning but didn't yesterday. I think that's one of the reasons I have been stalled (in fact, I'm sure of it).

No mid-afternoon snack either (another reason for stalling). Supper was a sweet potato which I mashed and put just a little butter on it with some stevia and some cinnamon. I steamed a vegetable mixture and seasoned them with a little butter and salt/pepper/garlic powder mixture I have. Dessert was a stick of gum.

I know it sounds like a lot of butter but I just get some butter between the tines of a fork and kind of baste around over the hot vegetables and let it melt on them.

My first 32 oz. of water had my honey/ACV/garlic tonic in it (about 1 T.) and some senna tea and a scoop of L-arginine (blood pressure) in it. My second 32 oz. was just water. I also had some vanilla spiced chai tea. I also drink decaf coffee (blood pressure again).

TBTW has a crack slaw recipe I am going to try. I had TBTW and Amtrak mixed up in my earlier post.

I did a session of No. 1 Fat Burning exercises. I am up to 12 now. I use 10 lb. weights and on the overhead press part I do 5 rather than 1. I do Sun Salutes as a stretch before and also again as a stretch after. They really do keep me from getting sore. I am going to try to do them faster and work up to 15 sets.

That was yesterday. Today I have step aerobics. My eating doesn't change much. I will have the bran muffin w/pills before step aerobics. I will finish off the beef stir fry for lunch. I may hard boil some eggs today and make a tuna salad for supper. Don't know yet. I will make a big bowl of salad today. Love my salad spinner. If you don't have one, get one!

When I made my decision to make a chart of my weight beginning Sunday morning it was Saturday evening. The thought that popped into my head was to go ahead and eat on Saturday evening so that Sunday's weight would be higher making my first week's loss look better. I still have a fat brain sometimes.

I remember once when I was going to go back to Weight Watchers (again) that the evening before I gorged myself for the same reason.

This shows how much power some of us give to the scale. I can handle it a lot better now but it is one of the reasons I haven't made a weight chart until now. It bothers me and it shouldn't. That scale to me is like Hitler to the Jews. I have always weighed myself when I was in the right frame of mind to handle it. I give it too much power; if I have lost, I want to eat because I am happy; if I have gained, I want to eat because I am sad.

Weighing at WW was like being sent to the principal's office in school. It was the disciplinarian. I felt like a failure if I stayed the same or gained. I didn't want to go if I didn't think I was going to get good news. If I lost less than 1 lb. I still felt like a failure. The mindset was, "I spent this whole week planning, tracking, fighting hunger, and this is what I get?" I felt like a child throwing a tantrum. Emotions can wreck us as we all know. This is one of the reasons I think people are not successful in the long run with WW. I tried to be a people pleaser like those ladies that weighed us had some power over me. They were always very kind and supportive. It was ME who had the problem. The at home program with WW would help with this I think.

Thankfully now I have come a long way in this area of weighing. I have to look at this week's weight each time I open my blog. That is my motivation to stay true to what I want. I want to see a loss each week no matter how small because I have come to accept that this is for life so if I am doing what I should be doing the weight will come off and there is time.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

As you can see to the right I have posted for all the world to see my weight as of this morning. It's about where it has been for a few weeks now. I haven't been paying real close attention and this is a good sign for maintenance if I can hang around the same weight and live life using my new habits.

Just one thing - I am not at maintenance yet.

A little accountability will be good for me. Some of you are so good about posting your food and water intake as well as your exercise. I am going to do a little better but will not be journaling or planning ahead too much as that becomes another chore for me and one that I do not enjoy at all - kind of like housework. I have lost 47 pounds now with the new habits I've created so I can go the rest of the way I am sure.

I was going to do the 30 day Practical Paleo thing and have given up dairy for the most part. I have finished off the yogurt and the cottage cheese and won't replace it. I am drinking black coffee. I am using almond milk in my smoothies but they have the whey protein powder in them and I guess that's a grain? I also put the flax meal in them as well as some chia seeds. I am not willing to give up my morning muffin with the recipe I have posted that uses the box of raisin bran and stevia in the raw for the sugar and whole wheat flour for the white flour. They are small and I have one each morning with my pills and those carbs keep me from getting tired. The rest of the day is lean meats and vegetables. I have some dark chocolate for a dessert. A stick of sugarless gum also works for me as a dessert. I guess my food plan would better be called low-carb rather than Paleo. I also like the Quest Nutrition Bars especially when on the road a lot driving to fix ATM's (like the 10 hours I spent doing this yesterday). They are easy to eat while driving. BUT they are processed food.

I have made my own trail mix with nuts/seeds/mini dark chocolate chips/either raisins or dried cranberries. A serving is 1/2 cup and is very satisfying.

Water is not a problem for me. I am going to step aerobics 3 times a week and will add (not plan to add) some sessions of the No. 1 Fat Burning Exercise. The step aerobics and No. 1 Fat Burning Exercise should be enough.

The above got 47 pounds off of me. I guess it can get the next 25 off as well.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

About the funniest thing to me is somebody imitating someone else. On "Whose Line Is It Anyway" Ryan Stiles could do Carol Channing and John Wayne so well. A black man imitating a woman is so funny. When Eddie Murphy imitates James Brown it's a hoot to me. Here's Jimmy Fallon imitating Bill Clinton:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc2aXCV6my0

I am on call all day today and after last night's storms I had several ATM's that needed attention so I have been gone all day.

Friday, September 7, 2012

We are getting a lot of mileage out of the latest post of one our favorites known affectionately as The Big Train Wreck by Norma. I call her The Pied Piper because of the way she gets others to comment and follow. It's pretty amazing how good she is at the game she has made out of losing weight. She will never lose her weight - guaranteed. She is getting too much out of being obese. If she steps on the scale, her followers swoon. If she decides perhaps she might exercise, her followers act like she is the first one to have considered that this might be a good thing. Each time she starts again, we can almost hear gasps of adoration. She's good. Her posts are very well written and she writes in a way that would make you think she really has it together and knows what she is doing. She doesn't.

She knows all the trite expressions that we use to validate another "slip up" I believe was the term used. That week of eating junk food that has finally brought her to her senses is her latest new beginning. She does have a beautiful smile, has been on Richard Simmons to exercise, and has carried the banner for the obese and airplane seats. She has been on TV for that as well.

She always ends her posts with a question which pretty much ensures several adoring comments to feed her ego. Considering the number of followers she has she does get comments galore. She takes down the comments of those who really have constructive criticism and good advice. That's not what she wants. I commented today about her efforts need to be consistent and the slogans she uses such as "she is more than a number on the scale", "not going to beat herself up", "she's OK with it", and so many other overused expressions that are not solutions are empty words. I also asked her how many times this cycle has been repeated.

There are people who are really trying and are in this very cycle. She is not trying. I was in that cycle and fought that battle. I follow people who binge eat and they are very bothered by it. Truly bothered. They fight it. They will one day win if they don't give up, take constructive criticism, and listen to good advice. It is easy to tell who is serious and who is not.

I think it's important that we understand how we can fool ourselves. She has no intention of losing her weight. I don't think she knows this but the rest of us do.

OK - now I have to think of a question so I will get a lot of comments. I am drawing a blank. You can comment anyway :-)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

I went to Sam's Club in Indianapolis with my cousin. She has a membership and can take one guest so I usually mooch and get in and shop on her card.

I decided to get some jeans. I wore a 20W when I started getting serious about getting this weight off and have been wearing a Size 16 (no W). I wanted a pair of Size 14 jeans to have as a goal. I bought them, got them home, and decided to try them on to see how close I was to getting into them without jumping off the roof. To my surprise, they went up easily and I wore them with a belt when I met some friends for lunch yesterday. Guess I need a Size 12 - no more "teen" sizes and definitely no more "W" with my size. I have ordered two dresses that I am expecting to be a little small so they can be my goal I guess.

I got the book, Practical Paleo, and am enjoying it so far. I think Jenn is doing the same thing. I tried a recipe today for chicken thighs basted with a mixture of butter, dijon mustard, salt/sage mix - 12 thighs - 425 degrees, 45 minutes. There are several left for future meals. I like that all the recipes make enough for two meals. I made my own balsamic vinaigrette dressing from a recipe in the book that was good as well.

We are trying to get ready for a community yard sale and it is raining. Bummer. Hopefully I will be able to get some more stuff out early in the morning. People who yard sale always show up early it seems. Lots of books and CD's to get rid of. It's amazing what can be found to put out for sale just going through some things.

I got the letter from Social Security about my earnings. I can only earn $14,640 before being penalized. I have already earned over $16,000 so I owe them back about $1,000 so I called ATM Solutions and told them we were going to have to knock it off until the end of the year. I also told them Nathan was looking for work and they are doing the background work on him I think. They also told me I could not work there if they hired him because of a policy about hiring family. I guess a father/son duo that used to work for them stole a bunch of money. Couldn't any two people who work for a company put their heads together and steal? I have worked there 18 years, have not called in sick once, know what I am doing, and they are short of help. Go figure. I am really looking forward to it - will have to adjust the budget as this will be a big hit to the income. Our only debt is our home equity line of credit so we can do it.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

I have a coffee press. It's the big one - probably holds about 6 cups of water. I have been getting myself ready to do the 30-day Paleo thing and giving up cream in my coffee was going to be tough. Today I put 3 of the coffee scoops in my press, 1 T. cocoa powder, and 1 t. cinnamon - I think I can drink this without cream. I use half/half. Skim milk and almond milk just don't do it. You might try this and see what you think.

Serving sizes came to mind as I tried to determine how big my press is. We drink coffee out of a mug and I think coffee is measured in 6 oz. servings when it is expressed. When I first joined Weight Watchers I remember a serving of cereal was 1 oz. which isn't worth getting a bowl dirty for. We would always use things like puffed wheat, rice krispies, and special K because they looked like more in the bowl because those cereals were so light. It's important to think we are getting a lot of food. The kicker is unless things have changed a serving of cereal is 3/4 oz. now - really not worth getting a bowl dirty for. I remember when all of us kids were at home a box of cereal was maybe 4 servings at the most.

We give tours through the Mansion House in Centerville. It is where we had our quilt show and there are old dishes there. A serving size certainly was small back then just looking at the plates/saucers/cups.

I guess perhaps servings were smaller because it was harder to store food and leftovers??? Now we have refrigerators, freezers, those vacuum pack units, zip lock bags and many convenient ways to make it easy to cook larger amounts so that there WILL be leftovers for another meal. I remember at Grandma's house she would make a large mid-day meal and then throw a table cloth over the leftovers to be eaten on for the rest of the day - any of you have those memories? We loved to watch her kill those chickens :-)

Yesterday was a wedding in the family. The weather was threatening rain and sure enough there was some rain during the ceremony. They had built a walkway and a platform out over their pond for the wedding and had a big tent put up in the yard for the reception. Most people brought umbrellas and we had to use them but the neatest part was as they came back down the walkway after the vows, Kris turned around and sang to Karli right at the bottom of the walk. He was on the grass and turned around to her as she was at the last of the wooden walk. It was so romantic. They are both Christians and met when both were teaching in Uganda as part of a mission trip. He is from Brazil and she is from Indiana. I am so happy for them.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Go here please. It's hard not to notice Chris Christie's size. There are some important points made in this article. This is not a Republican/Democrat thing at all - just an honest debate on impressions, leadership, and a lot more.